The #NextGenATP Spaniard, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on Wednesday, ripped 19 forehand winners en route to a 6-4, 6-0 win against Adrian Mannarino. This is Alcaraz’s maiden ATP Masters 1000 victory in just his second event at the level. The 17-year-old made his Masters 1000 debut at the Miami Open presented by Itau in March (l. to Ruusuvuori).
“I am really, really happy. This is a special win for me here in Spain, here at La Caja Magica,” Alcaraz said in his post-match interview. “[To] win a Masters 1000 match here is amazing.”
The World No. 120 will meet Nadal for the first time in the second round. However, the pair has already shared some court time together this year. Alcaraz and Nadal met for a practice session ahead of this year’s Australian Open.
The #NextGenATP revolution has descended on Quimper, France.
One week ago, it was 20-year-old Sebastian Korda lifting his second ATP Challenger Tour trophy, and on Sunday fellow American Brandon Nakashima grabbed the spotlight himself. The 19-year-old also captured his second Challenger crown, streaking to victory at the Open Quimper Bretagne Occidentale 2.
Nakashima needed one hour and 18 minutes to dispatch Spain s Bernabe Zapata Miralles, dominating the final 6-3, 6-4. The California native turned in an efficient performance on the indoor hard courts of the Parc des Expositions, saving five of six break points faced to complete the #NextGenATP American double in Quimper.
13 Jan 2021 - 10:11
Serbia s Viktor Troicki in action.
The Peninsula
Doha: Former world No.12 Viktor Troicki is one step away from reaching the main draw of the 2021 Australian Open after dispatching American Ulises Blanch, 22, in straight-sets 7-5, 6-3 yesterday in the second round of the ongoing men’s qualifiers being held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
The 34-year-old Serbian, who won the inaugural ATP Cup in 2020, becoming the first player in history to win all three major team competitions (Davis Cup in 2010 and World Team Cup in 2009 and 2012), dispatched his 246-ranked younger opponent in 94 minutes.
Troicki won 89 percent of first serves and 65 percent of the second in the highly-entertaining encounter as he booked his ticket against Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe in today’s final round match.